“Elder J.B. Dalley, president of the Arkansas conference, and his companion, Elder Wm. Jacobson, lately had an experience of a very trying nature in that state. They crossed the Anachita river, entered the little town of Moro Bay, went to the post office to mail letters, and offered the postmaster a Book of Mormon. He said he had one and did not believe a word of it. As the elders were leaving the town they were overtaken by a big, burly fellow riding a mule, who asked if they were drummers [salesmen/peddlers]. The elders introduced themselves and then the fellow wanted to see some of their books and to know if they had Mormon literature. He received an affirmative reply, when he ordered the elders to put up their books, turn back on the road and “hike it,” at the same time getting his double barreled shot gun in position. The elders moved on and he followed, abusing them. They remonstrated, but he said he did not want “any of their head,” and that he was surprised at intelligent men going around the country gathering up women to take to Utah. The elders answered that such a thing was farthest from their purpose, and told him he could go back on their track and investigate their conduct.

“The party had gone back toward the town some distance when the mobocrat – for such he certainly was – compelled the elders to take a road leading into the country, saying that the people of the town would not have either them or their literature. The elders replied that they were willing to leave and did not wish to press their literature on any person, and asked why they could not go back the other way. The mobocrat replied that he would show them the way to go, and marched them to a large stream of water. The elders began to look for a place to cross, but he ordered them to ford it, and raised his gun. The elders went to the edge of the water where one of them turned and told their tormenter that it was a shame to expose their health in that way.

“The prayers to the Lord to soften their persecutor’s heart began to be answered. He lowered his gun and commenced to reason with the elders. At length he said: “Well, I want to see all of your literature.” The elders opened their grips to him and he took a Book of Mormon, a Voice of Warning, a copy of the Improvement Era, some tracts and copies of Liahona, The Elders’ Journal. “Now,” he said, “I am going contrary to the orders of the citizens of Moro Bay, and taking the responsibility of letting you go; but if you will not distribute ay literature you may go.”

“The elders urged him to read the literature he had taken from them, and he would find out they had been badly misrepresented, and that he had been misinformed. He promised to read the literature, and took the addresses of the elders, saying that if he found what they said was true he would write to them. he gave the elders his name and shook hands with them and then forded the stream on his mule. it was several feet deep. The elders went on their way rejoicing.”

– Liahona, The Elders’ Journal, 23 January 1909